mc: alt should stay as it is, but
new mechanisms might support structure

<Joshue> JOC: I think the use
cases for this will probably relate more to longer
descriptions. More terse descriptions will probably not need
this kind of structuring capability.

jr: would like to restrict the
structure to text structure (no fancy stuff in a
description)

<Joshue> +q

RESOLUTION: We
suggest new mechanisms for short text alternatives should be
capable of handling structured content
... Our primary concern with short text alternatives is that
they be able to inline support text structure, such as
abbreviations, language changes, emphasis, etc.
... Our primary concern with long text alternatives is that
they be able to support block and inline text structure, such
as abbreviations, language changes, emphasis, tables, headings,
etc.

test consensus on "We want the alt attribute to
be one of the mechanisms HTML provides"

RESOLUTION: We
recommend continued inclusion of the "alt" attribute as a
non-deprecated mechanism to provide short text
alternatives

longdesc

<discussion about whether longdesc should be
deprecated; maybe premature to decide either way; relationship
to anticipated support for ARIA>

gv: maybe if AT support for
aria-describedby is sufficient when HTML5 being finalized,
longdesc could be deprecated

mc: Do note that aria-describedby
only points to an internal resource (IDREF), while longdesc can
also reference an external resource

<concern about this>

gv: If the target of
aria-describedby contains a link to an external description,
that should be sufficient

jr: concern this introduces a
dependency on AT vendors that HTML WG can't manage

<cyns> +1 jan

mm: clarify that longdesc is
currently considered "obsolete", has been removed from HTML
spec

RESOLUTION: Because
we believe aria-describedby will be supported by AT at least as
well as longdesc when HTML5 goes to Rec, we believe it is
acceptable to make longdesc obsolete in HTML5

reusing existing text as a long
description

gv: This is implicit in our
support of aria-describedby

so OBE

Should short text alternative be required
always

mc: note this is not the same
question as whether "alt" should be required